This shawl is worked from top to bottom, it has a “more than half circle” shape for a better fit. It features geometric motifs and a variation of a Niebling’s flower. Pattern is in both chart and text format

“Le Beau Mariage” (” The beautiful marriage”) When I first saw this shawl, I thought it was a wonderful marriage of design and stitch elements from Herbert Niebling and Marianne Kinzel. As I work on it more, it’s becoming the story of a Beautiful Marriage. _______________________________________________

The Beginning: Two people meet from opposite ends of a provisional cast-on. For some, it’s love at first sight. For others, it may take a few tries to work out their differences, but come to realize they’re made for each other.

Chart A: Love is blossoming, and the two are staying up all night because they can’t get enough of each other. Eventually, diamonds are exchanged and life begins anew. She discovers he has hidden talents - such as making waffles* for breakfast on Saturday mornings.

Chart B: Life together is taking on its own rhythm. Regular patterns begin to emerge as the two hearts become inextricably entwined.

Chart C: The predictability of two meshed lives gives way to children blossoming forth. They grow and flourish, enriching the fabric of marriage, but eventually they leave home and the couple must find their way back to old patterns.

Chart D: The couple continues about their long life together, forever enmeshed with the give and take, the back and forth, that they have come to expect.

Chart E: There are many years to be counted together in this project called marriage, and our couple has survived them together. Oh, there were mistakes made along the way, but who remembers what they were, or where they are?

Crochet Cast Off: Finally our couple walks hand-in-hand into the sunset as they look back on their marriage and marvel at its beauty!

The edging exists as a continuing reminder of the ups and downs of life; to stay close and keep an open mind. _________________________________________________ That’s my bedtime story, and I’m sticking to it!! Linda

Ninon39 did help us with French language and now we have “Le Bon Mariage” !